Are Green Smoothies Really Good For You?

A friend recently asked me my thoughts on the article 3 Reasons to Avoid Green Smoothies on Everyday Ayurveda.

The writer has three main points when objecting to green smoothies, two of which I will address.
The first is green smoothies are cold, dry, and rough, mainly due to ice cubs and cold ingredients being used as well as rough veggies and fruits being used. In the Ayurveda system, cold, dry, and rough aggravate the body and lead to “increased dryness, roughness, coldness, mobility and variability in the body/mind. This can be experienced as variable appetite; gas or pain after eating; dry constipation or loose motions (increased mobility); dry/rough skin and hair; variable energy; poor circulation and pain or cracking in the joints.”

The second argument is green smoothies difficult to digest with the addition of superfoods and multiple ingredients. I’d say I comprehend the writers objective and agree with some of the points I do agree simple smoothies go a much longer way and the less ingredients in raw foods (because a smoothie is a raw food), the better. Too many ingredients in a smoothie can make it heavy and the more compound a food, the more the body has to work to break it down. When making a smoothie, choose one superfood to include versus having a mix ie flax, chia, or hemp. Rule of thumb: 5 ingredients or less.

As far as cold smoothies, I wouldn’t use ice or cold water. One way around that is if the smoothie is made using cold or frozen ingredients, the first time, blend in a high speed blender as it may warm up slightly and secondly, make it early enough that it can sit and warm up/get to room temperature.

Do you drink green smoothies? What has been working for you?


YGL staff